Hay-fork



(No. Model.) y y H. STAHL.

v HM PORK.. No. 292,878.l Patented Jan. 22, 1884.

` UNITED STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY'sTAnL, or CHERRY MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent .N0. 292,378, dated January 22, 1884- Application led August 16, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, HENRY STAHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherry Mills, in the county of Sullivan and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Forks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,

making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings represents a front elevation of my fork in `its closedposition; Fig. 2, a similar View with the prongs extended, and Fig. 3 a side elevation.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hay-forks, and has for its object to improve the construction of this class of devices, whereby a lighter, stronger, and more durable, as well asmore readily operated, article of the kind may be obtained at a reduced cost, these objects being attained by the construction substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, A represents the frame or casing of my improved fork, constructed, pref- A erably, of steel in one continuous piece, bent at the top to form a loop, a, to which the hoisting apparatus lmaybe attached, this form of frame or casing giving the most strength for the amount of material employed.

Pivotally secured to the frame or casing A are prongs B, a rivet, b, connecting the sides of said frame or casing just above these prongs, to prevent any springing out at this point.

Pivoted to the prongs B at points outside of the pivotal connection of said prongs with the frame or casing A are side bars, @which curve inwardly. at their upper extremities, where they are pivoted to a central bar, D, and terminate each in an ear, c, which comes against and slides upon the edge of one of the sides of said frame or casing when'the central bar is operated, thus doing away with the necessity of slotting this barjor the sides of the frame or casing. The side bars, C, are offset or bent laterally, as shown at d, and their lower portions are made narrower than HAY- FORK.

(No model.)

`pivotally connected a lever, E, having its bearing upon a pin, e, passing through it and the frame or casing A,`said lever being formed at its outer end with a loop, f, to

-which is attached a small rope for use in discharging theV load, a stop, g, being placed between the sides of the frame or casing, to prevent said lever from coming too far over when raised for throwing out the prongs B to engage the hay.

In the operation of my invention the fork is closed, as shown in Fig.` l, and forced down into the hay. The leverEis then raised until it strikes the stop g. This raising of the lever causes the prongs B to spread, as shown in Fig. 2, thus'engaging the hay, the prongs being locked in their extended position by means of the center bar, D, and lever E, forming a toggle-joint, the three pivotal points o f which assume a position a little beyond their dead-center, while the said lever before stated. rIhe fork with its load is now hoisted and conveyedto the point of discharge, where itis unloaded by pulling on their upper, so that when the prongs B arek the rope connected to the lever E, which breaks the'lock and permits the prongs to assume their closed position ready for a repetition of this operation.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the frame or casing A, the prongs B, pivoted thereto, the lever E, also pivoted thereto, the side bars, C, provided with ears c, and the center bar, D, pivotally connected to said lever and said side bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the casing A, rivet'b, stop g, lever E, prongs B, the laterally-bent IOO .erating substantially as and for the purpose side bars, C, pivoted to said prongs, and hiw- In testimony that I claim the above I have ing the narrow lower portions, and the inhereunto subscribed my nume in the presence wurdly-ourved upper portions terminating in of two Witnesses. ears c, and the Center bar, D, pivoted to said lever and said side bars, all arranged and op- X/Titliesses:

RUSH J. THOMSON,

HENRY STAHL.

described. F. V. THoMsoN. 

